Holocaust Reflection

The remains of  gas chamber at Auschwitz II

Remains of entry way to gas chamber in Auschwitz II

Pond in Aushwitz II filled with ashes of the murdered. This is also the location of our prayer service in honor of all the lost lives. 

     Something I do not think I will ever fully understand is why there was and is so much hatred in the world. I cannot fathom why the Nazis thought murdering an entire population would solve Germany's problems. It is hard to understand the Nazi ideologies and what caused them to seem appealing to the Germans. In another religion class, we questioned if Hitler can ever be forgiven and have salvation with God. In Poland, we somewhat discussed this. The only people who can truly forgive Hitler and the Nazis are the victims or survivors. Jewish and Christian people today cannot grant forgiveness and redemption for actions that took places decades ago. The idea that Hitler can be forgiven for his horrific plans of extermination makes me angry and I cannot imagine living in a world where his sins are forgiven.  However, can a perpetrator be a victim? There were many Germans who decided freely to partake in the violent and hateful actions, but there were also some that may have been forced into the job. There had to have been some SS guards who were unaware of the extent of their jobs. Perhaps some worried about what would happen to their families if they did not comply.

            While at Auschwitz II, I experienced a special moment. When we arrived at the remains of the gas chamber, I was completely numb and overwhelmed with sadness, sorrow, and anger. I sat on the stairs silent crying for a few minutes until one of my classmates, Sia, came over to comfort me. We walked over towards some trees and I started hearing beautiful chirping of birds, sounds I did not hear a few minutes prior. To me, this moment helps me see the light in darkness. God did not abandon his people during the Shoah, He was present in the hearts of the prisoners and shed His grace through the selfless actions of the prisoners.

            It is difficult for me to discuss my experiences with people who were not on the trip with us. We had such a unique and tremendous encounter that I do not want to dismiss its significance with the answer “good” when asked how the trip was. We learned from extremely well-versed professors, tour guides, and religious fathers and sisters about various perspectives on the Holocaust. Going into this class, I thought I had a lot questions surrounding the Shoah, but while studying and reflecting in the places where so much suffering happened, I bombarded myself with dozens of more questions. Why did God let the Shoah happen? Where was human dignity? Why is there so much hate? I had a difficult time finding the answers, but after truly reflecting and processing my thoughts, some answers are clearer to me. God is found in the hearts of the prisoners in the camps. The biggest sacrifice made by Fr. Maximillian Kolbe is an example of the love and human dignity that exists in the most horrific situations. He switched places with a father and husband in line for the starvation cell. The man who he saved ended up surviving the war. Such selfless actions prove the magnificent workings of God through His people. I used to think that God should have never let the Holocaust happen. However, God gave humans free will hoping they would choose good. Sometimes people choose evil and it is not God’s fault, rather He is ashamed when humans choose evil. God gave people the ability to choose good or evil which created human worth and dignity.

            I am forever thankful to have had the opportunity to study in Poland with wonderful and intelligent professors, such passionate students and thinkers, and Holocaust educators. I will truly never forget the discoveries we made, the lessons we learned, and of course, I will never forget the innocent lives lost during an unfortunate time in human history. 

Marina Falisi

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Auschwitz I March 21, 2016

View from before entrance to Auschwitz I

Recreated sign at entrance to camp. Translated from German: "Work will set you free"

Camp barracks

Visiting Auschwitz I today was definitely an emotional and shocking experience. Being able to walk the steps of so many innocent Jewish prisoners was an unbelievable experience. I felt completely concentrated on everything around me while walking through the camp. I was a little apprehensive on how I would react to being on such delicate land. The first thing I noticed at the camp were the terrifying barbed wire fences. They represent such fear and suffering for the Jews. The other side of the wires represents freedom, the side many Jews would not see. 

        I listened to every word the guide said and took in all the information I could. I was not expecting the buildings to be converted into exhibits. However, I  think the way all the information was presented was very gentle and appropriate. All the statistics and numbers of people affected by the Holocaust were completely unbelievable and appalling. The personal stories and personal items left behind are such sad reminders that the prisoners were completely stripped of humanity. It is important to remember the dignity of each individual murdered rather than solely the numbers of people killed. The average life time for an individual was 3 months. Some stayed longer and some immediately were sent to die. The weak Jewish women and children were usually sent to die,  while the working men had to endure a tremendous amount of suffering until they were killed soon after. I felt sorrow for the innocent babies and children who were killed. The original pictures presented on the wall made the Shoah a personal issue. Seeing that these kids were just like anyone else was a scary realization. The quotes from Hitler that we heard were completely disgusting. His ideologies of creating the perfect race and eliminating all those who were enemies to the Germans was widely accepted by Germans. I cannot understand why people thought it was okay to murder millions of innocent people to achieve some perfect world that will never exist. 

          During our lecture with Father Manfred, he asked us what is wrong with the Nazi ideologies. Nazis wanted to return to the old Germanic way of life by upholding natural selection and taking care of their own people. Some of my peers mentioned that Christian values of love were completely ignored and how leaving the weak to diminish in society actually can make a nation weaker. I learned today that there is no easy answer to the questions of what was wrong with the Nazi Ideologies and how the issues can not be so easily dismissed by calling the Nazis unintelligent. They had an extremist way of life which was implanted in the minds of Nazis that the the Aryan race was superior. I think the problem with their ideologies may not be that people should protect their own people. Rather, the issue is how people go about protecting their country. Murder is never the answer to problems, and in fact caused more problems for the Nazis when many were tried and executed for their deeds during WWII. Having Patriotism is acceptable and in fact, can create a sense of unity within a country. When patriotism turns into hatred and racism, that is where the problem lies. The Nazis were made to think that people of different backgrounds could not get along. Yes, differences in cultures and backgrounds can cause disputes, but murder absolutely  does not solve those disputes. 

At the end of the night, we all gathered together and had a reflection on the difficult day. Emotions flew from me and I felt immense pain for all those affected by the Shoah. I can not understand how the world would let this happen. It seems appropriate to question where God was during this terrible time in history. If people cause evil, why can’t God, the most powerful being, create goodness that can override the evil? I do not know if I will ever know the answer to this question. It is hard for me to remain hopeful after walking the grounds of Auschwitz. Some prisoners were righteous and gave up their lives for fellow Jews. However, many peoples lives were not saved. Yes, there are some happy endings for some Jews but it is extremely difficult for me to see past the darkness and remain hopeful.

Marina Falisi

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Arrival and Anticipation

       

Compilation of Jewish tomb stones at old Jewish cemetery 

More Jewish tombs stones in rows at the Jewish cemetery

The Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Beautiful sunset from the second floor of the Center of Prayer and Dialogue 

         We arrived in Poland after a 9 hour flight at 10:30 am Saturday morning. We arrived at the Center of Prayer and Dialogue, our residence for the week, and were welcomed with a delicious polish dinner. We had soup, salad, chicken, mashed potatoes. All the food tasted so fresh and flavorful.  After lunch we continued on a tour of the town Oswiecim, where the Center of Prayer and Dialogue is located. We walked around the old Jewish cemetery, which is kept by volunteers. We learned that during WWII  many of the stones were moved from their original location and some of the stones were used for road pavements. In contrast, we visited the modern polish cemetery down the road from the old Jewish cemetery. There, we saw people coming to visit their loved ones with beautiful flowers and candles. Next, we walked over to a Jewish Museum and learned about Jewish traditions and were able to sit in the last synagogue in the town. We then went back to the center and had another delicious meal. We all went to the bed rather early, about 9 pm for me, because many of us did not get much sleep on the flight! I enjoyed walking around the town, observing the polish people, seeing the town squares, and especially enjoying nature. The weather was pleasant on Saturday and we were able to witness a gorgeous sunset on a way to dinner. 

            Day 2 was another incredible day. We took a 45 minute bus ride to Wadowice, Poland. Wadowice is the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. Today was Palm Sunday so we were able to see a Palm Sunday procession in front of the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We had a tour of the town and saw Pope John Paul's elementary and high school. My favorite part of the day was when we went to the museum of Pope John Paul II, which was also his home. It was interesting to see the early and late life stories of Pope John Paul and understand where his love for Polish culture was rooted in. Pope John Paul travelled to many countries and mended relations with Jews and Christians. At the end of the night we had a lecture with Father Manfred about different perspectives during and after the Holocaust. He emphasized the importance of listening to one another because all cultures have different perspectives. During his talk, I was thinking about how many people today may look at the Germans today as guilty of causing suffering during WWII. Germans understand the horrific actions Hitler took during the war and memory and reflection of the Holocaust is present in Germany today. Sr. Mary mentioned something that stuck with me. She said we are here to remember and honor the memory  of the Holocaust but have to let ourselves feel the way we want to feel. There is no right or wrong perspective of the Holocaust. On the first night of the trip, Sr. Mary encouraged us to think about why we are here. Tomorrow, as we visit the camp, I hope to gain insight and knowledge which will help me discover why the Holocaust happened and why I am here.

Marina Falisi

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